The Project Engineer owns assigned capital, equipment, packaging, and facility projects at CedarLane from concept and justification through design, procurement, installation, qualification, and full production use. The role manages scope, schedule, budget, and quality for each project and directs internal teams, contractors, OEMs, and suppliers across multiple facilities. A project is not complete at installation. It is complete when the equipment or change is qualified under SOP-QA-ENG-RD-001, documented, handed over to Production and Maintenance, and running at standard rate and fully utilized. The role also drives continuous improvement and Lean manufacturing at CedarLane, using measured baselines and structured problem solving to raise capacity, rate, and yield and to reduce labor, downtime, and waste.
Project Management
Own a portfolio of capital and equipment projects. For each project, define scope, requirements, success criteria, budget, and schedule, and maintain a project plan (Gantt or equivalent) with milestones, owners, and critical path.
Run a weekly project review for each active project with an action tracker. Submit a written weekly status report to the Director of Manufacturing & Technical Services covering schedule vs. plan, spend vs. budget, risks, and decisions needed.
Forecast schedule slips early, identify root cause (e.g., missing contractor drawings, permit delays, long-lead parts), and present recovery plans before milestones are missed.
Prepare capital expenditure (CAPEX) requests for Sequel Holdings and board approval, including cost estimates, ROI/payback, labor and capacity impact, and alternatives considered.
Close out each project with a punch list, as-built documentation, final cost reconciliation, and a lessons-learned review.
Engineering, Design & Procurement
Create and maintain 2D/3D drawings, equipment layouts, floor plans, and utility routings (SolidWorks/AutoCAD) for new equipment, line changes, and facility modifications. Keep plant layouts and drawings current as installed.
Write equipment and project specifications and RFQs; obtain and level at least three bids where practical; evaluate vendors on cost, lead time, sanitary design, service support, and spare parts; and support Purchasing through award and PO release.
Evaluate new and alternate packaging and components (cups, trays, bowls, lids, film, sleeves, labels, cases) for fit, function, and compatibility with CedarLane equipment before any trial is requested.
Engineer packaging lines as one continuous process (e.g., filler to lidder to labeler to sleever to case packing), addressing conveyor transfers, alignment, accumulation, and timing so the line runs without manual hand-offs.
Apply sanitary design and washdown requirements to all equipment and installations: food-contact materials, cleanability, IP-rated electrical, protection of controls and wiring, and foreign material prevention.
Equipment, Packaging & Component Qualification
Lead qualification under SOP-QA-ENG-RD-001, New Packaging, Component & Equipment Qualification and Release. Open Form FRM-QA-ENG-RD-001 (Sections 1-3) before any PO for new material, trial, BOM change, or equipment change.
Drive Gate 1 plan approval with FSQA, Quality, VP of R&D, Process Engineering, Manufacturing, Production, EHS, and Purchasing as applicable.
Write and execute DQ, IQ, OQ, and PQ protocols with defined acceptance criteria and fit checks. PQ is three production runs at standard rate with settings locked at the OQ values. For HPP products, run OQ units and first PQ units through HPP to verify seal.
Complete the pre-release readiness checklist: item master and BOM in xTuple, receiving specifications, standard work with settings marked on the equipment, line checks, training, and SSOP.
Obtain Gate 2 signatures before any BOM change, substitution, or PO is released. No new or changed item, equipment, or setting runs in production without a signed Gate 2, regardless of schedule or inventory pressure.
Verify equipment against marked settings and standard work after any OEM service visit or repair before it returns to production.
Installation, Contractors & Start-Up
Coordinate and supervise contractors, OEM technicians, riggers, electricians, plumbers, and refrigeration vendors on site. Schedule work around production and sanitation, and enforce contractor safety, LOTO, hot work, and GMP requirements.
Manage installations of processing, packaging, inspection, refrigeration, and utility equipment, including electrical, water, air, steam, and drainage tie-ins.
Lead commissioning and start-up; train operators, leads, and maintenance technicians; turn over manuals, drawings, spare parts lists, and PM tasks to Maintenance; and verify that rated speed, yield, and quality are achieved.
Coordinate building permits, plan check, and agency requirements with permit expediters, the city, and regulators (USDA, FDA, CDPH, Cal/OSHA, local fire and sanitation agencies).
Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing
Apply Lean manufacturing principles to every project and line change: design layouts and equipment for continuous flow, minimal WIP, and reduced motion, transport, waiting, and rework, with clear visual management.
Establish a measured baseline before each project (rate, OEE, yield, downtime, changeover time, and labor per unit) and measure the same metrics after start-up. Report the gain against baseline at project close-out.
Lead and support kaizen events and rapid improvement projects at 717 and 1135 with the Process Engineer and CI Technician, targeting capacity utilization, labor reduction (DPS), yield, and throughput.
Map value streams for product families and packaging lines to identify bottlenecks, constraints, and non-value-added steps, and turn findings into prioritized improvement or capital projects.
Apply SMED to reduce changeover, sanitation-to-start-up, and start-up times on processing and packaging lines, and maintain changeover time standards.
Build standard work, 5S, visual controls, and error proofing (poka-yoke) into new and modified equipment so that settings, checks, and operator steps are clear at the point of use.
Use structured problem solving (DMAIC, A3, 5 Whys, fishbone) to find and eliminate the root causes of chronic downtime, yield loss, rate shortfalls, and quality defects. Sustain gains with control plans and follow-up audits.
Quantify the business case for improvements (labor savings, capacity gained, scrap reduction, payback) and feed qualifying opportunities into the CAPEX pipeline.
Support the management operating system (MOS) through daily production meetings, gemba walks, and KPI reviews, and follow up on improvement actions until closed.
Cross-Functional Support
Partner with the Process Engineer, CI Technician, Maintenance, Production Managers, Sanitation, FSQA, R&D, EHS, Planning, Purchasing, and Warehouse to align project requirements and communicate impacts.
Support RCCA investigations for equipment failures and foreign material events within project scope, and implement engineering corrective actions that prevent recurrence.
Provide technical support during customer (e.g., Costco, Trader Joe's, HEB), SQF, USDA, and regulatory audits for projects and equipment within scope.
Participate in gemba walks and daily production meetings as needed to stay close to line performance and project impact.
Minimum Qualifications
BS degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or Process Engineering or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and engineering work experience.
A minimum of five (5) years of engineering experience managing manufacturing equipment, tooling, packaging, or capital projects from concept through implementation on the production floor.
Demonstrated experience managing project schedules, budgets, vendors, and contractors, and preparing cost estimates and quotes for equipment, tooling, and processes.
Proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks and/or AutoCAD) for 2D/3D drawings, layouts, and assemblies; able to create, read, and interpret engineering drawings and blueprints.
Experience in a regulated or quality-driven manufacturing environment (e.g., food, packaging, ISO 9001, FAA/EASA), including documented qualification, inspection, and quality control practices.
Hands-on mechanical aptitude and experience with measurement tools (calipers, micrometers, gauges).
Demonstrated record of continuous improvement with measured results (e.g., reduced cycle time, downtime, changeover time, scrap, or labor).
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to lead meetings and work with internal teams, customers, and suppliers.
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Project or equivalent scheduling tool, Word, PowerPoint).
Able to work fully on site and travel between CedarLane facilities and to vendor sites as required.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Food, Beverage, or Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) manufacturing equipment, including fillers, sealers, lidders, sleevers, labelers, coders, kettles, conveyors, HPP, and X-ray/metal detection systems.
Experience with rigid food packaging (PET/PP containers and closures) and packaging line integration.
Working knowledge of GMP, HACCP, SQF, USDA requirements, and DQ/IQ/OQ/PQ equipment qualification.
PMP certification or completed PMP coursework; SolidWorks CSWA/CSWP certification.
Experience with ERP systems (xTuple or similar) for item master, BOM, and work order accuracy.
Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma training or certification (Yellow, Green, or Black Belt), with hands-on use of Lean tools such as value stream mapping, 5S, SMED, standard work, kaizen, OEE, and A3/DMAIC problem solving.
Bilingual English/Spanish (strongly preferred to work with production and maintenance teams).
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
This is a fully on-site role in food manufacturing facilities, including refrigerated and freezer areas (as low as 0F), wet and washdown areas, and active construction zones. A minimum of 50% of working time is spent on the production floor, at installations, and at contractor work areas; the balance is office work (design, planning, and documentation). Must follow all GMP, food safety, allergen, and safety requirements, including required PPE (hairnets, smocks, safety shoes, hearing and eye protection). Must be able to walk and stand for extended periods, climb ladders and stairs, work at heights with fall protection, and lift up to 50 lbs.